WHO WE ARE
We all have a story to tell, and we all live out of our stories. It’s our upbringing, culture, experiences that all culminate into who we are but also who we are becoming. Our stories are important, but for those of us who have encountered the grace, forgiveness and unconditional love of God as revealed to us through Jesus, are learning to live to live out of the story of God.
Our congregation was birthed in 1990 out of a small group of Filipino Christians who were part of First Alliance Church here in Calgary. This community of faithful Filipino Christians had a burning desire to reach out to diaspora Filipinos of Calgary. As this ministry continued to grow in numbers, we were able to launch out as Calgary Filipino Alliance Church in 1996.
The Lord continued to grow the congregation, and develop new passion not just for Filipinos, but for all the nations. We felt that the previous name didn’t reflect this new passion for the nations, so we re-named as River of Life Alliance Church. Our name reflects Jesus’ offer of living water to the Samaritan woman (Jn. 4) as well as his offer that “whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water (Jn. 7:38). Our desire is to help all people and places to experience life in Jesus. God loves diversity, he loves all cultures, and as a church whose story is rooted in both our cultural heritage as Filipinos, but also rooted in the Kingdom that Jesus has come to usher in, our desire is for God to use all that we have to offer to bring the good, the beautiful and the true to all nations.
In 2016, our church was able to find a physical building to call home. We strongly affirm that the church is not a building, but rather the church is the people of God gathered together who live under the gracious rule of Jesus. But we also recognize that our building on Bannister Road presents us with new opportunities on what it means to be a good neighbour to Midnapore and the wider community of South East Calgary.
We want to say that you’re more than welcome to join us as we seek to participate with God in the renewal of all things through the message and mercy of Jesus.